Useful Organisations

For Retired People

Introduction

As people spend more of their active life in retirement, many organisations have been set up to support retired people with new opportunities around hobbies, leisure activities and education. There is a wide range of retired people’s organisations and most of them fall into one of the following categories:

• Activities
• Campaigning
• Support, including carers’ organisations.

A list of these organisations, summarising their aims and activities, is below. You can contact your local Citizens Information Centre or library to find out details of retired people’s groups in your local area.

Activities

Activity-based groups include active retirement associations, sports, arts and culture groups. They include:

• Active Retirement Ireland (ARI) A national network of local active retirement associations that helps retired people to enjoy a full and active life and to advocate for them. You can contact ARI to find your local active retirement association or to get information on how to set up a new group.
• Age and Opportunity Age and Opportunity works to promote opportunities for greater participation by retired people in society in a range of areas from the arts and physical activity to promoting age equality.
  Campaigning

Organisations Lobbying for the Rights of Retired People

A number of organisations lobby for the rights of retired people. They campaign to raise awareness of the issues affecting retired people and influence government policy. They include:
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• Irish Senior Citizens Parliament The organisation represents the interests of senior citizens to government and other public bodies on issues affecting retired people such as income, health or housing.
• National Federation of Pensioners’ Associations As a representative body for pensioners’ organisations the Federation aims to protect and promote the interests of pensioners and retired people with issues including social welfare, health, superannuation and tax.
• Age Action Ireland Age Action Ireland is a national advocacy body on ageing and retired people. The organisation aims to achieve fundamental change in the lives of all older people by empowering them to live full lives as actively engaged citizens and to secure their rights to comprehensive high quality services according to their changing needs.

Support and Information

Many older people are living alone and many others are caring for frail retired people or others needing care in the home. There are a number of groups offering support and information to retired people. They include:

• Seniorline is a confidential listening service run by older people for isolated or lonely retired people. The line is open every day from 10am to 10pm, Freephone: 1800 80 45 91.
• Retirement Planning Council of Ireland The Council aims to prepare people for the period of their lives which begins after they retire from work. It develops and organises preparation for retirement and life changing courses, helping them to become aware of the advantages and problems of retirement.
• ALONE ALONE supports vulnerable older people providing temporary or permanent housing and combatting isolation and loneliness in society. Volunteers and staff work with older people in ALONE’s dedicated housing projects and in the community.
• Friends of the Elderly is a charity that brings friendship and social opportunities to the elderly, especially those who live alone. Its volunteers visit the elderly in their homes in the Greater Dublin area.

Carers’ supports

• Family Carers Ireland The organisation advocates on behalf of family carers in the home. It provides a range of services and supports to family carers including information on benefits and entitlements, respite care and training. It has a network of carers’ resource centres.
• Care Alliance Ireland The alliance is a national umbrella group which represents family carers’ organisations.
  (Source: www.citizensinformation.ie)

Courses

• Hi Digital – “Hi Digital” is a step-by-step course designed for anyone who needs a bit of help developing their digital skills, particularly those who have rarely or never been online (often 65+ years old). “Hi Digital” is a free online course developed by Vodafone Ireland Foundation, in partnership with NGOs
• Active Retirement Ireland (ARI)< and ALONE. The course consists of bite-size lessons organised around key digital themes including: The basics of internet access and how to use online devices; An essential guide to apps and features that can enhance daily life and combat isolation.Participants can work independently or alongside a mentor (a volunteer from Active Retirement Ireland (ARI) over a number of weeks to complete all of the lessons. Others may have assistance from their children, grandchildren, or other people from their community.

We know that lack of internet connection is often a barrier to pursuing digital skills which is why “Hi Digital” will be running in-person training at selected sites with high speed broadband across the country.

To register interest for classes commencing early 2025 hidigital@activeirl.ie or freephone 1800 203030.